Popular Motorworks (PMW) was a mechanics shop that was located on Popular Street in the neighborhood of La Mesa in the East Side district of Los Santos. The shop was founded by Vinny Pistone and Chip Wheeler.
History[]
Popular's operated out of an old Los Santos Customs, with a shared workbench located in a house owned by Chip's former MC leader, Barry Benson, on Roy Lowenstein Avenue. Popular's offered vehicle repairs and sold crowbars and lock picks. Their first investor was Patar Bellosh. Their first employee was head mechanic Steven Dawson, who gave Vinny and Chip $50,000 in startup funding. Manager Ellie Fletch was eventually brought in as a part owner, with a 10 percent stake in the business.
Chip was an early investor in the Roy Lowenstein house, which was purchased on the 28th of December 2023 for $157,650. The house's bench was purchased the following day for $25,000. On the 30th of December 2023, Vinny became a house investor as well, storing an exclusive lockpick blueprint he shared with Joseph Arrowhead at the property. Joseph later purchased Popular's their own workbench for the house.
On the 31st of December 2023, interpersonal tensions between Vinny, Chip and another house investor, Irwin Dundee of Mosley's Auto, culminated the loss of key access for Dundee and a return of his investment. Dundee later left Mosley's and joined Popular's as a mechanic and lockpick salesman.
On the 25th of January 2024, Chip and Vinny opted to relocate their bench, acquiring a residence nearby on Brogue Avenue next to the carwash. Following their departure, the house became the sole property of Barry's new motor club, Already Dead MC.
On the 22nd of February 2024, Vinny closed Popular Motorworks, liquidating the company's assets and ending operations in favor of pursuing a criminal career.